Check out what our members had to say about the benefits of being a volunteer with Elkins Park Fire Company:
A Second Family and Home Away from Home
Elkins Park Fire Company is like a second home. You’re always welcome there, no matter how new you are to the company.
The work, you do it because you love firefighting. But the group of guys – the relationships I’ve built are what keep you interested to keep showing up. We get together outside of the firehouse, we take classes together, we do a lot more than running to calls.
The membership is a family – you won’t always agree and you may have differences, but at the end of the day we must remain united.
Volunteer Experience
The most important thing I have learned so far in my time at EPFC is how to become a better leader and team player.
Every time I had an interview with a recruiter or with a college, I’d tell them about my volunteering and they were very impressed. I was hearing back from them, and was ultimately accepted!
Celebrating Diversity
These people are your neighbors and firefighting is such a rewarding experience. You meet so many different people from so many walks of life.
We have both respect for tradition and a willingness to adapt. If a young guy has an idea, we’re willing to hear them out and run with it. We’re open to new opinions so that we can develop with changes that occur with the volunteer fire service.
We have a really diverse group with different political opinions, as well as racial and age diversity, from our juniors program to 40+-year-old veterans. We strive to be the best we can be, and we have an openness where people can voice their opinions and be heard.
As a member, you make friends with people from all different walks of life, as well as getting to know the community you are protecting.
Reward of Helping Your Community
It is one of the best decisions I have ever made – be a hero and serve your community as a first responder – wherever you go you will be thanked for your service and you will sleep at night knowing you have done a good deed each and every day for the betterment of your neighbors.
Giving of your time and self with no expectations in return feels really good.
When we go to somebody’s house, maybe for a fire alarm, it seems like nothing to us, but when we fix their problem and people emphatically thank us, that means a lot to me.
I wanted to be a firefighter to give back and be able to help in the community, to service and bring my mechanical skills to help make this station one of the best in the area!
Free Training
Some of the most important things I’ve learned here are learning my limitations—knowing what I can and can’t do—and also knowing the member next to me has my back.
Everyone here has their own areas of expertise, which is fantastic because you can really pull from that expertise. Whether it’s structural firefighting, command presence, rescue; it’s a bunch of knowledge that comes together to make Elkins Park great.
Learning Life Skills
As part of this company, you learn to fight fires but also learn first aid and how to help save someone’s life.
The job is fantastic once you learn it. As you gain experience, you’ll gain confidence and do things you thought you never could do. Elkins Park is a solid organization, with good people who will take you in, teach you, and accept you. There’s no better way to give back to your community. So all in all, it’s an investment in your life.
Being a Role Model
We are able to be a positive role model for children in the neighborhood to look up to and to get excited when they see the truck. That’s something small that’s very rewarding – seeing the impact we have on young people. It’s given my life purpose and a reason to get out of bed.
An Amazing Experience
You get to know other likeminded folks in the community, and the calls break up the monotony of the day. At Elkins Park Fire Company, you’re part of something with a history and a valuable mission.
Like any hurdle, it’s tough, but once you finish the task at hand, there is a sense of accomplishment – no matter what stage of life you’re in.
Being a firefighter is an excellent way to serve the community in a meaningful fashion while also staying in shape and getting out of the house.
The most obvious reward to being a firefighter is that we’re helping the community, but beyond that, there’s the enjoyment of riding on firetrucks, putting on gear, hearing the sirens and the adrenaline rush – but all for a good cause.